What do you want the Penrith of the future to look like?
That question usually garners a concoction of answers, largely because there is no definitively correct response.
Interestingly, if you asked that question of someone in the 1990s, you would have got an answer something along the lines of wanting to be the next Parramatta – reflective of a city at the time desperate not only for growth, but also attention.
Somewhere along the line though, that changed.
A desire emerged for many to maintain Penrith’s unique status as a major suburban city in Sydney, but still having that country, small town type vibe about it.
The concept of becoming the next Parramatta, somewhere along the line, became something to scoff at, not wish for.
Perhaps that says more about Parramatta than Penrith, I’m not quite sure.
There is a nostalgic view about protecting the past. That will always be the case in any part of Australia, or indeed the world.
When you grow up somewhere, or when you love something, you tend to want to preserve it in its best possible state.
That is of course different for everyone.
I doubt, for example, too many people who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s are longing for the days of a century ago where horses would be commonplace along High Street or outside any of the iconic hotels in town.
Your past is not everyone’s past.
I digress.
What do you want the Penrith of tomorrow to look like?
If you say you want it to look like the past, or even today, then Penrith might not be for you.
As we know, or are constantly told, Penrith is a city on the cusp of enormous growth.
Part of that is the ever-sprawling nature of western Sydney itself, while a significant element is the upcoming arrival of Western Sydney International Airport.
And if you step outside of your bubble for a moment you’ll realise that the Penrith of tomorrow has the potential to be really exciting.
But we’ve got to make sure the city does not get in the way of itself.
Hospitality can often be the best indicator of a city’s success.
Are people eating in the restaurants and cafés? Are more eateries opening? Are lines out the door?
In Penrith, hospitality is something of an unpredictable beast.
For a while there Penrith appeared to be on track to catch up with some of its more trendy Sydney rivals, with a bunch of new cafés, bars and restaurants that were not your stock standard steak houses, pubs and Chinese restaurants (not that there’s anything wrong with those categories, I should say!).
Many of them have not survived, and Penrith has been somewhat of a revolving door when it comes to hospitality in recent years.
Some have sworn off the industry, believing it’s just too hard in Penrith.
Others persist, but say it’s a tough slog.
There is help available, albeit sparingly. Different grants and initiatives, like the recent Penrith Valley Entertainment Precinct concept, are handy.
But there is a greater issue that will continue to impact the hospitality sector, or any sector for that matter: population, and particularly population in the Penrith CBD.
We’re working hard, as a collective, to get people into the CBD. To spend their money there, to eat there, to not vacate after work.
But the truth is there is two different Penriths: the CBD and the suburbs that surround it.
And while Glenmore Park may only be a 15 minute drive away, and suburbs like South Penrith and Kingswood even closer, there is something of a disconnect between the suburbs and the CBD.
That’s understandable, particularly in a family-centric area, but part of the answer here is more people living in the CBD.
There are significant hurdles to overcome for that to happen though.
Height restrictions in Penrith, and ongoing debates over flooding and the rules surrounding that when it comes to developments, hinder investment.
Penrith City Council acknowledges that the removal of the Penrith City Centre dwelling cap, which limits the number of residential properties in the CBD, is something that needs to be removed. It is part of its advocacy strategy.
Should Penrith’s broad rule of eight storey building limits be changed? It would allow developers to build significant residential offerings in the CBD underpinned by retail and hospitality below.
We can keep trying all the initiatives we like in terms of attracting people to the Penrith CBD.
But the answer is right there before our eyes.
More people living in the actual CBD will turn Penrith into the vibrant city centre that we long for.
We can only hope that all parties, from developers to the various levels of government, can get on the same page to unlock the real potential of Penrith.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.